Kenneth R. Thomas, Sr., 78, of Big Beaver Borough died Thursday in the Medical Center Beaver.

Born July 27, 1928, in Eastvale, Pa., he was a son of Hobart and Hazel Gillingham Thomas.

He was a laborer for Babcock and Wilcox before retiring.

He was an active member of the Morado Faith Tabernacle and a proud patriotic veteran who had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Margaret R. Schied Thomas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Patricia D. Thomas of Slippery Rock, and Nancy K. and Harry C. Emery, Jr., of Darlington Township; four grandchildren, Wendy Bable-Olmos, Ben and Mathias Bable, and Tom Emery; two sisters, Jeanne McCandless and Shirley Tallon; and two brothers, James and Wayne Thomas.

He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth R. Thomas, Jr.; four brothers, John "Jack," Theodore, Hobart and Claude Thomas; and a sister, Peggy Thomas.

<B>Thomas</B> — Friends of Kenneth R. Thomas, who died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the <B>Campbell's Beaver Falls Funeral Home,</B> 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, Beaver Falls.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Rev. Donald W. Knapp officiating. Burial will follow in the Grandview Cemetery, Big Beaver Borough. Full military rites will be conducted in the cemetery by the Veteran's Honor Guard at 11:15 a.m.Memorial contributions may be made to the Morado Faith Tabernacle, 4th Avenue and 46th Street, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.For information visit www.campbellfuneralhome.com.